boza

Where does the word "boza" come from? It comes from Ottoman Turkish boza, passing through Bulgarian before entering English (2000s).

Boza’s story begins in Ottoman Turkish: boza meant “fermented grain drink.” Sold on winter nights by street vendors crying 'boo-zaa!' through Istanbul's streets. By 1800s, the word had taken hold in Bulgarian as boza. A traditional Bulgarian breakfast pairs boza with 'banitsa' pastry. It reached English by 2000s as boza. Orhan Pamuk's novel 'A Strangeness in My Mind' (2014), about an Istanbul boza seller, introduced many English readers to it. Today, boza means a thick, lightly fermented drink made from millet or other grain.

1. Stage 1 · Ottoman Turkish · medieval boza "fermented grain drink", sold on winter nights by street vendors crying 'boo-zaa!' through Istanbul's streets.
2. Stage 2 · Bulgarian · 1800s boza "fermented grain drink", a traditional Bulgarian breakfast pairs boza with 'banitsa' pastry.
3. Stage 3 · English · 2000s boza "fermented millet drink", Orhan Pamuk's novel 'A Strangeness in My Mind' (2014), about an Istanbul boza seller, introduced many English readers to it.